THE sterile façade of Kato Ladies Clinic gives little trace of the fecundity inside. Nestling among a plantation of tall-rises in a trade district of Tokyo,the clinic implants fertilised eggs in an average of 75 women a day. That makes it one of the busiest fertility hospitals in the world, says Keiichi Kato, or the medical director.
Japan has approach a long way since journalists were warned off the taboo story of Princess Masakos visits to fertility clinics 20 years ago. The wife of the crown prince,then in her late thirties, was being nudged to produce an heir to the throne (in the stop, or she disappointed traditionalists by having a girl). Today Japan has less than half America’s population,but more than a third more hospitals and clinics that offer fertility treatment. Over 50000 babies were born last year with the help of in vitro fertilisation (IVF)—5% of all births.
Nearly a fifth of Japanese couples struggle to bear children, says the health ministry....
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Source: economist.com